NFL Power Rankings: Week 8
Week 8 was filled with extraordinary games. The Vikings were handed their first loss of the year while Tom Brady won his third straight. The Seahawks and Cardinals finished in a 6-6 tie because their kickers couldn't hit the side of a barn and the Broncos threw Brock Osweiler a happy homecoming party. Yes, week 8 was an exciting one. But who is the new number one team in this week’s rankings? We find out in Week 8’s NFL Power Rankings below!
1.) New England Patriots
5-1 (Win 27-16 Vs. PIT)
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
- Say hello to your new number one team in the power rankings- as if you were surprised? Tom Brady is now 3-0 since coming back from his four game suspension, completing 75.2% of his passes while throwing for 8 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Maybe it was Belichick’s plan all along to deflate the footballs so in return the Patriots would get a motivated and angry Tom Brady. New England beat Pittsburgh 27-16 on Sunday, with the help from running backs LeGarrette Blount (127 yards / 2 TDs) and James White (32 yards / 1 TD). New England has a favorable upcoming schedule for the most part, so don’t be surprised if the Pats can reclaim their number one seed.
2.) Minnesota Vikings
5-1 (Loss 10-21 Vs. PHI)
Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
- That one stung Vikings fans, especially since it was coming off of your bye week. The Vikings were physically beat down on Sunday, losing to the Eagles 21-10. Sam Bradford returned back to “Sam Badford”, while turning the ball over three times (his first turnovers of the year). The defense was still elite, forcing four turnovers in their loss, but the offense could get absolutely nothing going. The offensive line remains a question, as does the running game. But, if Bradford can even play subpar, this team will go as far as its defense takes them.
3.) Dallas Cowboys
5-1 (Bye Week)
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- The Dallas Cowboys had their bye last week and will take on The Philadelphia Eagles in Dallas next Sunday Night for first place in the NFC East.
4.) Seattle Seahawks
4-1-1 (Tie 6-6 Vs. ARI)
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
- The bad news? Seattle’s defense was on the field for a whopping 46 minutes. The good news? They gave up only SIX points. The offensive line is very banged up, but this defense is one of the top units- if not the best in the league. Oh, and this is without pro-bowl safety Kam Chancellor as well. Last week’s tie hurts, especially after missing a 28-yard chip shot field goal for the win. But, Seattle remains in first place and still only has one loss on the season. A road trip to The Big Easy to play the Saints should help get their running game back on track, which ranks second to last on yards per carry (3.1).
5.) Denver Broncos
5-2 (Win 27-9 Vs. HOU)
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
- It was a very happy homecoming in Denver on Monday night (At least for the Broncos). The Broncos defense was stellar, keeping former quarterback Brock Osweiler and the Texans out of the end zone the whole night. Trevor Siemian had a solid night, throwing for 157 yards and a score while not turning it over, but what really helped Denver, was their running backs. CJ Anderson and Devontae Booker led Denver’s offense for the most part combining for 194 yards and one touchdown. The Broncos are now tied for first place in the AFC West with Oakland.
6.) Green Bay Packers
4-2 (Win 26-10 Vs. CHI)
The Post-Crescent-USA TODAY Sports
- Have the Packers finally turned the page on their bizarre season? Aaron Rodgers finally looked like the Aaron Rodgers that we all knew, completing 69.6% of his passes while throwing for 326 yards and three touchdowns. Granted this was the Bears defense, but it is an encouraging sight, especially considering how Rodgers looked last game against Dallas. The Packers got creative in their backfield, giving carries to Ty Montgomery, Knile Davis, and Randall Cobb which worked solidly and young receivers like Davante Adams finally stepped up (132 yards / 2 TD’s). It remains uncertain if the Packers are officially back to their old selves, but with Rodgers playing like he is, "The Pack" may be back.
7.) Philadelphia Eagles
4-2 (Win 21-10 Vs. MIN)
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
- So that’s why Howie Roseman traded Sam Bradford eight days before the season started. The Eagles absolutely destroyed their former quarterback on Sunday, hitting him 19 times (6 sacks) and forcing his first three turnovers of the season. Carson Wentz continued to cool down after his phenomenal rookie start, but granted it was the number one scoring defense in the entire league. Jim Schwartz and his defense have given up 81 offensive points this season (13.5 PPG) while registering 3.3 sacks per game (Both 1st in the league) as well. If the defense and special teams can continue to make plays, and the offense can finally get rolling, Next Sunday night’s divisional game in Dallas (For first place in the NFC East) should be one of the best games of the year.
8.) Kansas City Chiefs
4-2 (Win 27-21 Vs. NO)
Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
- The Chiefs took advantage of The Saints two turnovers and ten penalties to pull out a win 27-21 last Sunday. Alex Smith had an Alex Smith type of day, throwing for 214 yards and two touchdowns while Spencer Ware racked up 131 yards and a score of his own. The defense was stellar, returning an interception for a touchdown (Courtesy of Danny Sorensen). Kansas City (4-2), is now one game out from first place with a favorable four game stretch coming up in the revamped AFC West. Oh, and did I mention Marcus Peters has 13 interceptions since the beginning of 2015? The Chiefs defense is a force to be reckoned with.
9.) Oakland Raiders
5-2 (Win 33-16 Vs. JAX)
Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
- Just win baby! Oakland rattled off another win this week in Jacksonville, adding to their 4-0 record on the road this season. Jack Del Rio got the last laugh, as he picked up the victory versus his former team, while Jaguars coach Gus Bradley continues to look for answers. Latavius Murray took care of business running for 2 touchdowns and Michael Crabtree continues to build on his impressive season, hauling in 96 yards and a touchdown. Just like Kansas City and Denver, The Raiders will need to keep winning to stay relevant in the all of a sudden brutal AFC West.
10.) Atlanta Falcons
4-3 (Loss 30-33 [OT] Vs. SD)
Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
- Why Dan Smith, just why? The Falcons lost a heartbreaker to San Diego Sunday after blowing a 17-point lead. Atlanta received the ball in overtime and elected to go for it on a 4th and 1 on their own 45-yard line. The only problem was Devonta Freeman got absolutely stuffed, setting up a game winning 42-yard field goal for San Diego. Atlanta has now dropped two straight and flashbacks of last year are already starting to be remembered. Although the Falcons are in the lackluster NFC South, they will need to learn how to close games if they want to contend this year.
11.) Arizona Cardinals
3-3-1 (Tie 6-6 Vs SEA)
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
- What an absolute heartbreaker for Bruce Arians’ team. After nearly doubling their rival’s total yards and first downs, the Cardinals only managed to put up six points. That’s not even the bad part. After both Arizona and Seattle kicked field goals in their opening drives of overtime, The Cardinals drove right down the field looking for the game winning points. Arizona decided not go for it on a 3rd and goal from the one-yard line in overtime and elected to send out Chandler Catanzaro to kick the game winning field goal. Catanzaro missed the 18 yarder, as it bounced right off the upright, leaving Bruce Arians in disgust. The Cardinals aren’t finished yet as they remain only one game out of first place in what looks to be a two-way race for the NFC West title.
12.) Pittsburgh Steelers
4-3 (Loss 16-27 Vs NE)
Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
- Where are thou Big Ben? Even after beating New England in total yards, time of possession, and winning the turnover battle, it was still not enough to beat Bill Belichick’s team. Landry Jones threw an interception in the redzone right to the hands of Malcolm Butler, while finishing 29-47, throwing for 287 yards and a touchdown. Le’Veon Bell had another nice day racking up 149 total yards. But the combination of LeGarrette Blount and Rob Gronkowski was too much. Pittsburgh will look to get back on track after losing two straight as they travel to Baltimore to take on the Ravens.
13.) Buffalo Bills
4-3 (Loss 25-28 Vs. MIA)
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
- The Bills impressive four game winning streak came to a disappointing end on Sunday, losing to the Miami Dolphins 28-25. The Bills were outgained by 187 yards and lost the time of possession battle by over 14 minutes. Tyrod Taylor led the team in both passing (221 yards / 1 TD) and rushing (35 yards / 1 TD) as the team struggled to establish the run all game. It doesn’t get any easier here for the Ryan Brother’s squad as the team hosts a white hot Patriots team and then travels to Seattle.
14.) Cincinnati Bengals
3-4 (Win 34-17 Vs. CLE)
Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
- On the stat sheet, it looked as if Cincinnati had a field day. Quarterback Andy Dalton threw for over 300 yards and two scores, while Jeremy Hill and AJ Green both eclipsed 165 yards and scores of their own. Then you look at the box score and realize it was against the Cleveland Browns. The Bengals still haven’t looked like themselves from last year. The defense looks softer and the running game has been inconsistent. If Cincinnati wants to return to the top of the AFC North (1 game out), they will have to continue to run the ball to open up lanes for a rather impressive Andy Dalton this year.
15.) Detroit Lions
4-3 (Win 20-17 Vs. WAS)
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- Raise your hand if you saw this coming. After Detroit’s painful 1-3 start to the season, The Lions have now rattled off three straight wins to pull within two games of the division leading Vikings. Matthew Stafford has been phenomenal this season, throwing for eight touchdowns and zero interceptions in his last three games. The defense is stepping up, thanks to Rafael Bush and Darius Slay. The running game looked better than previous weeks as the newly acquired Justin Forsett totaled 45 yards on only ten touches. Wide out Golden Tate who has 258 yards in the last two games, is finally showing why he was thought as the number one receiver coming in to this year. The Lions keep proving doubters wrong and are starting to get hot at the right time of the year.
16.) Washington Redskins
4-3 (Loss 17-20 Vs. DET)
Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
- After stating that “They run the East”, The third place Redskins lost a heartbreaker in Detroit as Matthew Stafford threw a touchdown pass with 16 second remaining. Washington (now 4-3) fumbled away two balls (one in the end zone) in route to its 20-17 loss. The road doesn’t get any easier for Captain Kirk and his team after a trip to London to play Cincinnati, as their next four opponents after that game have a combined record of 21-9-1.
17.) New York Giants
4-3 (Win 17-10 Vs. LA)
Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports
- Be thankful there are no style points in the NFL Giants fans. But a win is a win, and that exactly what Big Blue did in London against a stellar defensive Los Angeles Rams team. New York intercepted Rams’ quarterback Case Keenum four times while safety Landon Collins retuned one 44 yards all the way for the score. Eli Manning had a below average day, throwing for 196 yards, as did Rashad Jennings, running for only 25 yards on 13 carries. The Giants can now rest up as they head in to their bye week before they return home to take on the second place Eagles in a division show down next Sunday.
18.) Houston Texans
4-3 (Loss 9-27 Vs. DEN)
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
- Houston, we have a problem. After Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall stated that he wanted to kill his former quarterback, Osweiler went in to his old stadium and completely laid an egg. The Texans put up only 9 points the entire game while racking up 271 total yards and turning it over two times as well. Osweiler has been anything but special this season and may soon be a 72 million dollar back up if his play keeps up. The former Broncos quarterback is completing only 58.2% of his passes while throwing eight interceptions. On the other hand, The Broncos are happy; as former teammate Aquib Talib said plain and simple, “Siemian is better than Osweiler.”
19.) San Diego Chargers
3-4 (Win 33-30 [OT] Vs. ATL)
Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
- Could the Chargers actually make a run for the AFC West? To think if they wouldn’t have collapsed in the fourth quarter of those two games, they could be 5-2. But this league isn’t about should haves and could haves. At least San Diego took care of business on Sunday as they constructed a miraculous comeback of 17 points in Atlanta. Phillip Rivers continues to defy time, as he threw for over 370 yards while running back Melvin Gordon is masking his low yard per carry mark by becoming an absolute touchdown machine. San Diego actually has a pretty favorable schedule after next week’s division date at Denver. It will be interesting if The Chargers can stun Denver next week and pull close to the division leader.
20.) Miami Dolphins
3-4 (Win 28-25 Vs. BUF)
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
- Who needs Arian Foster when you have Jay Ajayi? The former fifth round draft pick from Boise State is only the fourth running back in NFL history to rush for back to back 200+ yard games, as the Dolphins reeled off their second straight win. Ajayi has done it all for this offense, opening up the passing game for quarterback Ryan Tannehill as he did on Sunday connecting with wide out Kenny Stills for a 66-yard touchdown to ice the game. If Ajayi can even keep up half of this production, The Dolphins can and will continue to win games and fight for a wild card spot in the relatively weak AFC.
21.) Indianapolis Colts
3-4 (Win 34-26 Vs. TEN)
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- After coming off one their most devastating losses of the year, the Colts beat their division rival Tennessee Titans 34-26. With the defense actually making a couple of plays, the Colts relied on their quarterback to do the rest. Andrew Luck had himself a day; throwing for over 350 yards and three touchdowns with T.Y Hilton hauling in 133 of those yards and a score himself. The Colts (3-4) who needed this win are now one game out of first place in the AFC South, but have a tough upcoming schedule that includes Kansas City, Green Bay, and Pittsburgh.
22.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3-3 (Win 34-17 Vs. SF)
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- After overcoming a 14-point first quarter deficit, Tampa Bay scored 34 out of the next 37 points in route to their third win of the season. Jameis Winston had himself a day; throwing for 269 yards and three touchdowns, two which went to wide out Mike Evans, who finished with 96 yards through the air. Jacquizz Rodgers ran wild for 154 yards all part of Tampa Bay’s whopping 516 total yards. With their win, Tampa Bay pulls within one game for first place in the NFC South with Atlanta coming to town in two weeks.
23.) Baltimore Ravens
3-4 (Loss 16-24 Vs. NYJ)
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- Another week, another loss for the Ravens. After starting off 3-0, Baltimore has now dropped four in a row, thanks to a virtually invisible running game and lack of offensive production. The last four losses have all been by one possession, but the Ravens just can’t seem to step up to the plate. The good news is no one in the AFC North right now is running away with the division. Baltimore is tied for second and only a game out of first place. Both Baltimore and Pittsburgh have a bye this week before battling each other in Baltimore week 9.
24.) Tennessee Titans
3-4 (Loss 26-34 Vs. IND)
Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
- That hurts Titans fans, that hurts. After a game that should’ve been won, The Titans again found some way to lose. With a win, Tennessee would have moved in to a first place tie with the Houston Texans, but instead are tied in second behind by a game. The division is still wide open and The Titans will have plenty of more chances to win, but losses like that will kill you at the end of the year. Demarco Murray had another solid day, as he eclipsed 100 yards, but Marcus Mariota has got to limit the turnovers. Up next is a divisional game against Jacksonville which could help The Titans get right back in to the race, or pretty much eliminate them for good.
25.) Los Angeles Rams
3-4 (Loss 10-17 Vs. NYG)
Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports
- How bad is Jarred Goff? I mean, really? Rams head coach Jeff Fisher is still sticking with quarterback Case Keenum even after only putting up ten points and four interceptions on 53 (!) passing attempts. With the last interception being a fair catch in the end zone, caught by cornerback Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie. The Rams, who have now lost three straight, have lost ground in the NFC West and fell from first to third, only above an awful San Francisco team. Jeff Fisher needs to figure something out and fast, unless he wants to end up having another one of his famous 7-9 seasons.
26.) New Orleans Saints
2 -4 (Loss 21-27 VS KC)
Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
- Woof, after outgaining Kansas City in yards 463-326 and completing 64% of their third downs, The Saints still found a way to lose. Two crucial turnovers that led to a defensive score and ten penalties haunted the Saints on Sunday, who were trying to win their third straight. The defense played solid for the most part, but still did not force any turnovers. If New Orleans wants any chance to catch up to Atlanta (who have lost two straight), the team will have to play more disciplined football.
27.) Carolina Panthers
1-5 (Bye Week)
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- The Carolina Panthers had their bye last week and will play the Arizona Cardinals this Sunday.
28.) Jacksonville Jaguars
2-4 (Loss 16-33 Vs. OAK)
Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
- The excuses are running out for head coach Gus Bradley, as his time in Jacksonville may be coming to a bitter end. The Jaguars dropped a 33-16 game versus the Raiders this week and the same problems occurred once again. Jacksonville turned the ball over three times (2 Bortles interceptions) and had absolutely zero pressure on Derek Carr. Oakland’s punter Marquette King even had one carry for 27 yards picking up a 4th and 24 on a busted punt play. I’ve said it for a year now and will continue to back it up, until the Jaguars fire Gus Bradley, they will not succeed.
29.) New York Jets
2-5 (Win 24-16 Vs. BAL)
Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
- Geno Smi-, I mean Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Jets picked up their second win of the season, beating Baltimore 24-16. This was a much needed win if The Jets want any chance at all to return to the playoff race. Matt Forte had himself a game; totaling 154 yards and two touchdowns. It was after the game though, where things got interesting. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick stated after the game that neither his owner or coaches believed in him. Call me a critic but why should they after throwing six interceptions and STILL start you the next game? Stay humble, Fitztragic.
30.) Chicago Bears
1-6 (Loss 10-26 Vs. GB)
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- I would feel bad for Bears fans, but The Cubs are playing in the World Series. Where to start, where to start? The Bears lost their third straight game last Thursday against division rival Green Bay 26-10 and there are no signs of any improvement or fight from this team. Jay Cutler returns this week, but is that even a good thing? There are questions surrounding this team; Will Kevin White ever stay healthy and will they keep Alshon Jeffrey around? The Bears have a lot of holes to fill in this year’s upcoming draft. But there are bright spots, which include running back Jordan Howard and Willie Young.
31.) San Francisco 49ers
1-6 (Loss 17-34 Vs. TB)
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- For the sixth straight week, San Francisco has lost. It doesn’t matter who is starting at quarterback. Whether it’s Gabbert or Kaepernick, the Chip Kelly offense is completely failing and leaving the defense on the field for over 33 minutes per game. Jim O’Neil’s defense is giving up over 400 yards a game this year and an average of 37.3 points per game over the last three weeks. Rumors have surface that the team is trying to trade wide receiver Torrey Smith in exchange for draft picks, as the 49ers will look at this season as a rebuilding one for the future.
32.) Cleveland Browns
0-7 (Loss 17-31 Vs. CIN)
Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
- Will the Browns win a game this year? That remains to be seen. But you can add Kevin Hogan to the list of Brown’s quarterbacks to start a game for them this season. Hogan finished as the team’s leading passer (100 yards / 2 Int) and rusher (104 yards / 1 TD) as the Browns fell to division rival Cincinnati 31-17. The Browns have an extraordinary amount of holes to fill for upcoming seasons. It seems as every week passes by, Browns fans cringe as rookie quarterbacks (Dak Prescott & Carson Wentz) continue to succeed around the league. Head coach Hue Jackson has repeatedly said that Cleveland will not trade veteran left tackle Joe Thomas even though the team could use the draft picks for this upcoming draft to help them rebuild their broken franchise in hopes of being competitive for the future.
Written By: Thad Brown
Edited By: Matthew Solof
